5.
321
You
6.
You
2416
not thought worth while to light that ward owing to the small use made of it.
Since this ward was thrown open to general patients as described in my Despatch No. 236 of the 3rd instant, it was found desirable to light it like the rest of the Hospital, and I accordingly asked the Council to vote the additional sum ($1,400) required for the purpose.
Vote No. 16. This Vote was taken to make provision for the heavy expenditure that has been and is being incurred in connection with the Plague.
I shall furnish you in a separate Despatch with a detailed statement of the expenditure under this heading incurred during the current year, and of the temporary Staff that has been engaged.
Vote No. 17 is explained in the Minute.
No. 18. No provision was made in the Estimates for the current year for the salary of the Commandant of the Hongkong Volunteers as the appointment had not finally been sanctioned till the beginning of this year.
No. 19. is explained in the Minute. The expenditure incurred to date is detailed in my Despatch No. 832 of the 29th ultimo.
No. 20. An extra supply of hose for the Fire Brigade was rendered necessary owing to the extraordinary wear and tear of hose owing to the unusual number of fires that occurred during the recent prolonged drought.
4#May
No. 21. The reasons for the several items under this Vote are set out in the enclosed letter from the Director